Tag Archives: Southampton FC

Southampton

1st Team Goalkeepers: Kelvin Davis (35), Paulo Gazzaniga (20)

The ability of Southampton’s players to step up to Premier League level is the big question ahead of the new season. That goes for their goalkeepers as much as anyone else. Kelvin Davis has been a consistent performer for the Saints since arriving at the club in 2006. In the last three years, he was twice named in the League One team of the year and more recently named in the Championship team of the year.

It speaks volumes about his consistency. He’s a solid goalkeeper, if not the most spectacular. He’s technically strong and his experience will be important. His last bite of the Premier League cherry didn’t go so well at Sunderland, but no-one involved in that dreadful 2005-06 came out of it with any great credit. Since then, he has rebuilt his reputation and fully deserves another chance in the top flight.

Over the summer, the Saints said goodbye to Bartosz Białkowski. Occasionally brilliant, often unreliable, he’s not the biggest of losses, but there was possibly a case to keep him around the place.

It means Southampton are low on experienced back up and Nigel Adkins would be well advised to make a move for a goalkeeper with a few seasons of English football under his belt. If Davis suffers injury or suspension, the young Argentine Paulo Gazzaniga is the player he’ll call upon. Signed in July, his only experience came from a brief spell with Gillingham. If all goes well, he won’t be required, but leaving things to the fickle hand of fate is always a risky strategy. Hopefully the Saints won’t pay the penalty for a lack of goalkeeping depth.